Life-sustaining apparatus



P. HABRICH.

LIFE SUSTAINING APPARATUS.

RPPUCATION FILED NOV. 1920. 1,394,824. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV-1, 1920. 1,394,824. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

'LIFE-SUSTAINING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921..

Application filed November 1, 1920. Serial No. 421,011.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETAR HABRICH, a citizen of Austria, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Sustaining Apparatus, of which the following'is a specification.

It is well known that persons on a sinking ship are often compelled to take to the water in an effort to save theirlives. After entering the water and after the ship sinks unless these persons are quickly picked up by a passing ship, they will soon perish.

One object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus of such character that when used will be the means of sustaining the lives of such persons for a long time.

Another object is to construct my improved apparatus in such manner that it will be serviceable in stormy weather as well as in fair weather.

Another object is to provide means which will enable the persons, even though in the water, to signal for aid.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 is a. side elevation of one form of my improved apparatus illustrated'partly in section and in the position which it will assume when in the water,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the same connected to a life preserver which may be attached to a person who may be termed the attendant of the apparatus,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view of the same general character as that shown in Fig. 3 showing the parts in a position to permit the hand of the attendant to be inserted into the supply buoy for the purpose of'removing food for distribution to other persons who are also in the water and supported by life preserving belts (not illustrated),

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line '55 of Fig. 2 and illustrating a waterproof electric button operative to produce a signal,

Fig. 6 is a view of the same general character as that shown in Fig. 1 illustlflting 2 mo i ed f rm of m inv nti n,

27 as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing a modified form of my invention as applied to and supported by a life preserving belt which may be attached to a person in the water, and Fig. 8 is a side View of Fig. 7 a part of the structure being illustrated in section.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, my improved apparatus includes a supply buoy 9 which consists of a container 10 having a frustoconical portion 11 which tapers downwardly and joins a cylindrical part 12 which is closed at its end with a cap 13. This entire container below the top plate 1 1 is incased in a cork shell 15 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A tank 16 is mounted within the cylindrical part 12 and a tube 17 leads upwardly from the tank and is connected to a nipple 18 located outside of the container and normally closed by a cap 19 the latter being screwed on the nipple 18 which is connected by a chain 20 to the nipple 18 to prevent its loss when the cap 18 is removed to supply drinking Water as will hereinafter be described. The tube 17 between the top plate 14: and the tank 16 is inclosed in a hose 21 which also communicates with the interior of the tank 16 at its top; said hose 21 at a space within the container above the partition 22 being provided with an air inlet hole 21 so that when any of the water is sucked out of the tank 16 through the tube 17 the amount of water removed from the tank will be replaced with air so as to permit the drinking water to be easily sucked through the tube 17. The space 23 above the tank 16 may be used to include an electric battery 24 for signaling purposes hereinafter described.

An air conducting pipe 25 is mounted in an upright position projecting a considerable distance above the top plate 14; said air conducting pipe being made in two sections coupled by a union 26; the lower section being mounted Within the container on a bracket The top of the pipe 25extends within a housing 28; said housing inclosing the top of the pipe 25 and including baffles 29 mounted above its open end 30 so that air entering the open end will be supplied to the top of the pipe 25 and under certain conditions will pass downwardly into the container 10 as indicated by the arrows. The baffles 29 serve to prevent any water which splashes upwardly through the open end 30 9f the housing from passing downward through the pipe 25 and I preferably connect cables 31 to the top of the hous ing and to the top plate 14 in order to brace the air conducting standard which includes ably provided with a mouth piece 36 so that a person can by the aid of an elastic band 37 attach the mouth piece to the head so that air can be breathed through the tubes The tower 32 includes an opening 38 to permit air to directly enter from the atmosphere and a pipe 39 extends downwardly through the opening and also communicates with the nipples 33. p

Any suitable baiile, such for example as shown at 40, can be employed in a similar capacity to the baflles 29 above described to prevent water entering the tower through the opening 39 from passing downwardly through the pipe 39 to the nipples 33. I have only illustrated one of the tubes 34 leading from the tower 32 but it will be understood that there may be as many tubes 34 s as there are nipples 33 and one of the nipples 33 can be used to connect a tube 34*. as shown in Fig. 2, to supply air to the person who is attending the buoy 9. The buoy 9 is preferably provided with straps 41 which may have any suitable attaching means thereon such for example as the hooks 42 which are adapted to engage in connecting rings 43 on a life preserving belt 44. as shown in Fig. 2; said life preserving belt 44 surrounding the body or" the attendant of the buoy. Thus the attendant can keep the buoy within reach for the purpose of supplying drinking water to any of the persons surrounding the buoy, and can dispose of the food at intervals by insertinghis hand downwardly through a flexible shield 45 which extends into the container 10 through an opening 46 inthe top plate 14. 'The shield 45 may be made of sheet rubberhaving an opening 47 of such normal diameter as to compel the hand to be forced therethrough and then contract around the wrist as shown in Fig. 4. Thus the attendant can insert his hand and withdraw food without possibility of water entering the container as is obvious from the illustration in Figs. 3 and 4.

A do0r,48 is hinged at'49 and is adapted to close the opening 46 and. form a cover for the shield 45. This door is adapted to) be locked in position by pivot bolts 50 which canbe swung into notches in the door 48,

after which clamping nuts 52 can be tightened and. securelyhold thedoor in position to prevent water from accidentally working its way into the container. II", however, any water should accidentally work its way into the space 23, the same can be withdn wn by the attendant sucking through the tube 53; said tube 53leading into the buoy through the top'plate l4 and extending into the compartment 23 as shown in Fig. 1. This tube 53 below the partition 22 is inclosed in a hose 54, the upper end ofwhich'is connected to a nipple 55 leading downwardly from the partition, 52; said-nipple being of such in ternal diameter as to communicate with the interior of the container 10 so that when the water is drawn out through the tube 53, the amountof water drawnfrom the space or compartment 23 will be replaced by air entering the compartment through the medium of the hose 54. 'It will be understood that both the hose 21 and the hose 54 are of larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the tubeswhich pass through themsothat an air space is provided between thetube and the hose in each instance.

The topplate 14 has a'search light 56 pivotally mounted thereon so that if the apparatus is used at night thesearchlight can be moved by-the attendant to-illuminate the various floats 35 to show any :person just where .these floats are located so that person's5 it the water is too rough to prevent free breathing, can stay near the floats and breathe through the tubes 34. Each ofthe tubes 34 has pipes 57 which lead downwardly torcceptacles 58 so that if-any water enters .the tubes 34 through the mouthpieces 36.

this water will drain down into the'receptacles 58-. instead ofibeing backed into the tower 32 and I preferably provide a suction tube 59 forjeach receptacle 58 whereby the water can be suckedoutof the receptacles58 from time to time. Furthermore the. pipes 57 form a balancing means to 'keep the floats 35? in substantially horizontal positions while in the water andthus prevent the turning of the floa-tsandIthuskeep all of the tubes 34 inproper positions The air conducting standard, which. includes the air conducting pipe 25 and housing 28,.supports at'its'top an electric lamp 60 which is connected with wires leading from the bat 'tery 24; said wires alsoincludin a push button 61; wlnchis inclosed-ln a casing 62 hav ng a, rubber cap 63 stretched overats top asclearly shown in Fig. 5. Thus the attendantean effect the illumination of the lamp 6O merely byupushing downon the top of the rubber cap 63 -and water will be prevented from; touching the button 61.

In the form of myinvention shown in Fig. .6, Iuhave illustrated a slight modification ingthe. arrangement of certain of the "parts. For example instead of providing the air conducting pipe'i25 with ahousing at its top as described in connection with "Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the top of the air conducting pipe 9.5 is provided with a wide tunnel end 64 which provides an opening for the entrance of air and this entrance may be closed by a door 65 which is hinged at 66 to the bottom of the tunnel end 6% and a cable is attached to the top of the door 65 and leads cownwardly to a cleat G8 on the pipe 25 in reach of the attendant so that the amount or air entering the funnel can be varied.

The buoy 9 is made of a slightly different shape from that described in connection with the buoy 9 and has a. space 69 which provides a compartment in which a container T0 is mounted which communicates with the bottom of the pipe 25 and with the tower 32 The tower 32 is constructed similarly to the tower 32 and instead of providing a suction tube for any water which might happen to enter the container, I provide outlet passage or duct 71 which provides a drain; it being understood that the displacement of the buoy 9 is such that the surface of the water would always be below the bottom of the air pipe 25. The other parts illustrated in Fig. 6 are similar to certain of the parts described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and I have therefore given similar parts corresponding reference characters.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have illustrated an ap paratus including an air conducting standard pipe 25 which is secured to a container 10; the pipe 25 extending below the container and adapted to be inserted within a socket provided by bars 72 pivotally mounted at 7 3 on a life preserving belt 74. The ends of the bars 72 opposite the pivots 73 being notched at and adapted to engage over bolts 74; the ends of the bars 72 opposite the pivots 73 being notched at 75 and adapted to engage over bolt 76; said bolts having thumb nuts 77 thereon adapted to tighten the bars and secure the device in upright position. The top of the air conducting tube has a housing 28 of the same general construction as that described in connection with the housing 28, and an electric lamp 60 is supported above the housing and is operative by current supplied by a battery 24% in the container 10 A push button 61 is secured to the top of the container 10 said push button being constructed similarly to the push button 61 above described. The container 10 may be used to provide space for food or drinking water and as illustrated I have shown a tank 16 for drinking water and a suction tube 17 out of which the drinking water may be withdrawn. The air conducting pipe 25 at a position Within the container 10 has a hole 78 therein communicating with the interior of the container and an air supply hose 345* communicates with the interior of the container and may be used by the person wearing the life preserving belt 7% to breathe air through the medium of the mouth piece 36 The container 10 has an opening 79 which is normally closed by a cover 80 and the cover 80 can be removed to permit access to the interior of the con tainer. In thisii'orm of my apparatus, the life preserving belt 74: forms the buoy to support a person and also to support he container and the associated parts.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I- am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

.tlaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus of the character described incluoing means providing an air reservoir; a breathing tube leading from said reservoir; an upright pipe leading upwardly from said reservoir; and a housing surrounding said pipe and open at its bottom, said pipe being in open communication with the interior of said housing above said open bottom; substantially as described.

2. Apparatus of the character described including means providing an air reservoir; a breathing tube leading from said reservoir; an upright pipe leading upwardly from said reservoir; a housing surrounding said pipe and open at its bottom, said pipe being in open communication with the interior of said housing above said open bottom; and a baflle surrounding said pipe above said open bottom and located within said housing; substantially as described.

3. Apparatus of the character described including means providing an air reservoir; a breathing tube leading from said reservoir; an upright pipe leading upwardly from said reservoir; and a housing surrounding said pipe and open at its bottom, said pipe being in open communication with the in terior of said housing above said open bottom, said housing having a portion tapering downwardly to the opening in said bottom; substantially as described.

4. Apparatus of the character described including means providing an air reservoir; a breathing tube leading from said reservoir; an upright pipe leading upwardly from said reservoir; a housing surrounding said pipe and open at its bottom, said pipe being in open communication with the interior of said housing above said open bottom; and a bathe surrounding said pipe above said open bottom and located Within sald housing, said bafile being frusto-conican a flexible hose supported by said buoy and float for conducting air from said buoy; and a flexibly connected mouth piece supported by said float and in communication with said hose; substantially as described.

6. apparatus of the character described including a buoy; a signal device thereon; an electric generator carried by the buoy; and a push button switch supported by said buoy and in connection with said generator and said signal device, said push button switch having a flexible cap forming a seal to prevent Water from contacting With the parts of the switch, the button of said switch being operative through the medium oi pressure upon said cap; substantially as described.

7. Apparatus of the character described including a buoy having a storage space therein and an opening permitting access to said space; and a flexible shield connected around said opening and'having a contracted hole therein to permit the insertion and removal of a hand into and out of said space to the exclusion of Water;substantially as described.

8. Apparatus of the character described inclu'dinga buoy having a storage space therein; a tank for drinking Water positioned Within said space; a tube extending into said buoy and into said tank; a hose communicating With said tank and inclosing a portion of said tube, said'hose having an air inlet hole communicating With the space in said buoy; and means for supplying air to said space; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

PETAR HABRICH. Witnesses:

CHAs. Por'rs, ELIZABETH GARBE. 

